Pete Seeger @ Clearwater Festival 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Clearwater Festival, the annual benefit for the Hudson River environmental group of the same name, will be happening this year at Croton-on-Hudson's Croton Point Park on June 19th & 20th. Pete Seeger, the non-profit's founder, plays every year - joining him this year will be Steve Earle, Rhett Miller, Joan Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, Felice Bros and more. More of the initial lineup is below. Tickets to the fest are on sale (and currently almost half the door price). Pictures from last year's day one are HERE and day two are HERE.

A bit farther Upstate in Hunter, NY, the three-day Mountain Jam will be happening June 4th-6th. The lineup for that includes Gov't Mule, Levon Helm & Friends, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Les Claypool, Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), These United States, Justin Townes Earle (note dad, playing above) and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band (the same, except grandpa). The full current lineup is below, and tickets are on sale.

Later this summer (in July), Camp Bisco will be in Mariaville, NY.

Lineups so far for both fests are below...

Continue reading "Mountain Jam (6/4-6) the Clearwater Festival (6/19-20) have announced initial 2010 NY concert lineups & tickets "

"Madison Square is probably best known around the world for lending its name to Madison Square Garden, which was a sports arena located just northeast of the park until 1925. The current Madison Square Garden, the fourth such building, is not in the area. Notable buildings around Madison Square include the Flatiron Building, the Met Life Tower, and the New York Life Building. A new exclusive luxury high-rise condominium tower, "One Madison Park", will rival the Met Life Tower in height." [Wikipedia]

The lineup for Madison Square Park's annual Oval Lawn series of free Wednesday shows has been announced. Held in the same NYC location that Lucero and others are playing in June for the Big Apple BBQ, the series will offer eight free concerts this summer, ending with the previously reported John Scofield Trio show on August 5th.

Its opening show on June 17th will be "A Wainwright Family Concert" with Loudon Wainwright III, Sloan Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche all sharing the bill.

Kicking off the 2009 season with a real "family affair," this triple bill features three uniquely talented voices of the highly acclaimed Wainwright family. Loudon Wainwright III headlines with his trademark self-effacing wit and broad humor. Sloan Wainwright, Loudon's sister, is known for a musical style blending pop, folk, jazz and blues. Lucy Wainwright Roche, Loudon's daughter, opens the show with her own bittersweet songwriting style, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffith.

The Wainwrights all have individual upcoming dates across the country, listed below. Lucy Wainwright Roche's schedule includes a NYC solo show at Joe's Pub on June 20th, a few days after the family show. Tickets are on sale. If you're wondering how these Wainwrights are related to each other and the rest, Sloan's website features a helpful family tree.

We also just posted a whole bunch of other free shows taking place in NYC parks this summer, and you can browse our Free Shows tag for even more than that.

Full Madison Square Park Oval schedule + directions, and all Wainwright dates, below...

Continue reading "Madison Square Park - 2009 free show schedule ++ other Wainwright (Loudon, Lucy & Sloan) tour dates"